Judicial Conference Approves Proposed Amendments

On September 15, 2009, the Judicial Conference met and approved the recommendations of the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure and approved the following proposed rules and forms amendments and new rules:

•Appellate Rules 1, 4, and 29, and Form 4;
• Bankruptcy Rules 1007, 1014, 1015, 1018, 1019, 4001, 4004, 5009, 7001, 9001 and new Rule 5012, and Exhibit D of Official Form 1 and Official Form 23;
• Civil Rules 8, 26, and 56, and Illustrative Form 52;
• Criminal Rules 12.3, 15, 21, and 32.1; and
• Evidence Rule 804.

The Judicial Conference also approved the proposed Guidelines for Distinguishing Between Matters Appropriate for Standing Orders and Matters Appropriate for Local Rules and for Posting Standing Orders on a Court’s Web Site and their transmission to the courts.

The proposed amendments — with the exception of the Bankruptcy Official Forms — will be transmitted to the Supreme Court with a recommendation that they be approved and transmitted to Congress in accordance with the Rules Enabling Act. The revisions to Exhibit D of Official Form 1 and to Official Form 23 will take effect on December 1, 2009, in accordance with Bankruptcy Rule 9009.

The Committee’s report and appendices containing the proposed amendments may be accessed by clicking on this link, http://www.uscourts.gov/rules/Reports/Combined_ST_Report_Sept_2009.pdf. The report and appendices may also be found on this page, http://www.uscourts.gov/rules/reports.htm.